The Society

It just goes on

He’s scoring at a rate that is better than Malkin’s or McDavid’s. Crosby’s and Ovechkin’s are slightly ahead. (Canucks Army’s Jeremy Davis pointed out to me that the latter two’s rookie seasons were in 05-06, the first post-lockout season when referees cracked down hard on hooking and holding and the scoring rate jumped to levels we’ve not seen since.)

This is called elite talent.

Thank goodness he didn’t have any lasting effects from that concussion.

Think about that… Pettersson has named the NHL Rookie of the Month for 66% of the times awarded, he made $425,000 in bonuses today, tied for league lead in GWG and has a 17 point lead on second place in rookie scoring (which was his point total for December)#Canucks

And on…

Oh wait, there’s more.

Meant to mention @_EPettersson tallies his first OT goal for @Canucks. It’s also his 7th game winning goal for #Canucks this season, moving him into tie for @NHL lead in GWG alongside Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog

Think about that: Pettersson has already found his groove, and it’s only January. The season is only halfway through and he’s playing at a better pace than the greatest goal scorer in Canuck history.

This is some train that we’re on.

Baertschi bangs one home

When Sven Baertschi revealed to a Swiss newspaper in November that he was dealing with pretty serious post-concussion symptoms, I genuinely wondered if his career was in jeopardy.

He was talking about things like quality of life. When you’re worried about basic things like that, there’s something underneath driving it.

So to see him return to health and get back in the lineup was a good thing. When you cover athletes, you want to see them at their best. You do feel for them when they’re hindered from doing so.

His goal on Wednesday was from a spot he’s not usually in, dead on top of the crease.

I asked him about scoring goals from on top of the crease.

“Depends,” he said.

“With them, I thought i had a lot of space there in front of the net. I wasn’t being pushed around.

“I was able to position myself to tip the puck and even after I had some time.

“Eddie looked at me and I think he was even surprised I was alone there.”

The Canucks had talked a lot about how important it was for them to do a better job of getting the puck to the net from the outside.

Baertschi noted that the Senators, unlike the Devils did on Monday, seemed to be playing a system that welcomed long shots. The Devils, he pointed out, defend in layers, meaning they end up blocking a lot of shots.

“It’s super hard to get them through. Sometimes it’s a better option to shoot them off the boards,” he said.

Edler’s big game

Alex Edler may have missed 14 games because of injury this season, but he’s playing some of the best hockey in his career.

He has 19 points in 28 games.

Alex Edler is on a career best points pace.. 19 points in 28 games.. Don't see him waiving the NMC, but man, he could fetch something

He picked up three more assists, including on the shot that led to Baertschi’s goal. He also sprang Boeser on the rush that became Pettersson’s first goal and he set up Pettersson’s power play goal one timer.

“He’s a horse, he’s playing great hockey right now,” Green said of the guy who’s clearly his No. 1 defenceman right now.

It’s hard to think he’d waive his no-trade clause, though if the Canucks were to somehow guarantee offering him a contract to return next season, maybe he would.

He’d be a helluva trade chip.

Leivo’s status

Leivo, who had been on Pettersson’s wing, left the game midway through the first.

I saw him walking out after the game, looking very stiff.

Green said he was dealing with an “upper-body” injury and said he was in doubt for Thursday’s game in Montreal.

Leivo, of course, would be making a return home on Saturday night when the Canucks face the Leafs.

His status also could throw a wrinkle into the team’s decision making in how to handle the activation of Brandon Sutter on Thursday.

Green, by the way, was delighted by Tim Schaller’s work on the fourth line against the Senators.

Playoffs? Really? This? Still?

That idea was rolled out again on Tuesday after practice. Erik Gudbranson highlighted how this is a “make or break week.”

That’s in reference to their playoff hopes.

Green was asked about the idea after the game.

There are many things on the table this season but did he admit his team does want to play “meaningful” games down the stretch while also keeping an eye on the main goal, which is building a team that will be a contender sooner rather than later.

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